Flexible shafting



nut l2 causes the packing rings 8 to be compressed axially and also to be constricted radially inwardly into tight engagement with the casing 2 and the helical groove thereof, thus to provide a water-tight packing between the sleeve 4 and the casing and also to effect a clamping and securing of the casing relative to the sleeve. Endwise movement of the follower as aforesaid also exerts pressure against the outer chamfered end of the ferrule 6 through the packing 8, and

hence urges the ferrule 6 against the sleeve shoulder thereby, to axially locate the same within the sleeve from both directions.

According to another feature of the invention, the sleeve 4 may be further clamped orinterif not already assembled with the casing, the flex ible shaft core is thereupon fed through the easing and its terminals secured in accordance with locked with the shaft casing 2 by means which,

as herein shown, comprises coarse spirally arranged ribs or teeth l4 formed on the inner diameter or surface of the ferrule 6, the pitch of I which corresponds to the pitch or lead of the helical groove formed in the exterior of the casing. Hence, with the teeth l4 interlocking with the helical casing groove, and with the ferrule fixed axially relative to the sleeve 4 upon tightening of the clamp nut l2, the sleeve 4 is effectively locked or clamped to the casing 2. Accordingly, in final assembly, the shaft casing is fixedly secured against axial displacement relative to the sleeve by the simple expedient of tightening of nut l2 to compress the packing.

To provide for the installation of a piercing sleeve assembly as aforesaid at a given angle relative to the deck plate or wall 3 required for a particular installation, without the necessity of providing irregularly shaped or elliptical plate orwall openings, the sleeve body 4 intermediate its endsis provided with a part-spherical enlargement l5, whereby upon locating the enlarged portion l5 of the sleeve in a circularly formed opening l6 of required diameter provided in the plate or wall, the sleeve may be angularly adjusted relative to the latter in the manner of a ball joint. Hence, the plate and sleeve may have the angular relationship shown in the drawing, or the sleeve may have any other angular relationship, within the limitations of such a sleeve to plate mounting, as required for a particular installation. Upon the sleeve being inserted through the opening l6 and adjusted to the required angular relationship, it is fixedly secured within the opening as by welding IT.

The piercing sleeve assembly as described may be assembled complete on the job, or, when desired, it may be loosely assembled on the casing 2 at the factory, as by threading the casing the requirements of the particular installation. It will be seen from the above that the invention provides a simple and effective sleeve assembly for carrying flexible shafting through a deck, bulkhead or like wall and for securing the casing to the latter. Moreover, asleeve assembly according to the invention may be inexpensively manufactured and thereupon installed with a minimum of time and effort. Upon installation, the sleeve assembly as aforesaid functions not only to permit passage of the flexible shafting through a deck' or bulkhead, but also effectively secures the shaft casing against axial displacement relative thereto, and at the same time providesan effective water-tight joint precluding the passage of water through the wall or plate opening in which the assembly is mounted.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting, sense.

I claim:

1. A piercing sleeve assembly for carrying flexible shafting consisting of a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing having a helical groove in its outer surface through a wall or plate aperture, comprising a sleeve adapted to extend through said aperture and to be secured to the wall or plate within said aperture, the sleeve having an internal stop shoulder formed therein, a sectional ferrule positioned within the sleeve by said shoulder and having teeth on its inner surthrough the sleeve 4, with the ferrule 6, packing 8 and follower 9 arranged in the large diameter end of the sleeve substantially as shown and loosely secured as by threading the nut l2 a few turns onto the threaded end of the sleeve. The sectional construction of both ferrule and follower expedites this assembly as the sections thereof may be readily arranged about the casing, and the sleeve slid thereover to hold the sections in place. To install, the sleeve and its contained parts are moved in the approximate position axially of the casing required for the particular installation, and the sleeve is thereupon projected through the preformed circular aperture l6 provided in the deck or bulkhead 3. Upon adjusting the assembly to the required angle relative to the deck or bulkhead, the sleeve is thereupon secured in place within the opening as by welding ll. Finally, the securing nut I2 is screwed down on the sleeve to actuate the split face meshing with the groove of the casing and- :being thereby operative to secure the casing wit in and to the sleeve, and means providing a water-tight joint between the sleeve and casing comprising a follower extending into said sleeve in spaced relation to the ferrule, packing in the space between ferrule and follower, and an end nut threaded on to the outer surface of the sleeve for actuating the follower toward the ferrule to compress the packing against the ferrule and into the casing groove.

2. A piercing sleeve assembly for carrying flexible shafting consisting of a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing having a helical groove in its outer surface through a wall or plate and being adapted for mounting at a given inclination relative to the wall or plate as required for a particular installation, comprising a sleeve adapted to extend through a circular aperv t 2,366,688 fixedly securing the casing within the sleeve, and

means providing a water-tight joint between sleeve and casing.

3. A piercing sleeve assembly for carrying flexible shafting consisting of a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing having a helical groove in its outer surface through a wall or plate and being adapted for mounting at a given inclination relative to the wall or plate as required for a particular installation, comprising a sleeve adaptedto extend through a circular aperture of the wall or plate, the sleeve being provided intermediate its ends with an enlarged part-spherical portion of diameter determining that of said aperture and which provides for Q initial angular adjustment of the sleeve to its required inclination relative to the wall or plate,

the sleeve having an internal stop shoulder formed therein, a sectional ferrule positioned within the sleeve by the shoulder and having teeth on its inner surface interlocking with the groove of the casing, packing contained in the sleeve, and a follower nut for compressing the packing against the ferrule and into the casing groove.

GEORGE G. EISENBEIS. 

